EU Regulations for EPAC Bikes

A new safety standard EN 15194 for EPACs, (Electrically Power Assisted Cycles) is expected soon according to bike-eu. The new legislation for the so-called e-bikes will cover vehicles with "a voltage up to 48 DC, a maximum continuous rated power of 250 W and an output, which is progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h".

The standards are also to include EMC testing as currently applies to many electrical devices and machinery including all motor vehicle and aircraft systems. EMC requirements usually fall in to 2 groups; emissions and susceptibility.

Emissions cover how much 'noise' the device puts out and is limited to certain levels across certain frequencies to avoid interference with other devices and services. On something like an EPAC the biggest source of emissions are likely to be the electric motors and controls on these emissions will be as stringent as any other device as all have the same potential to interfere with things like pacemakers, radio, mobile telephone and TV signals and so carry the same risks.

Susceptibility on the other hand is a measure of how well shielded the device is against background electromagnetic fields and other devices like the mobile phone. The consequences of the motor of an electric assisted bike suffering a loss of performance is much less serious (after all its only there to assist) than, say, an aircraft engine shutting down or your car engine turning off on the motorway. The susceptibility requirements therefore we would expect to be lower.

The testing then, even though it will no doubt require special and costly anechoic chambers is unlikely to throw up any major challenges for designers and most EPACs will be compliant by virtue of using decent quality components.

Information on all CEN regulations applicable to bicycles including...

EN 14764 for City and Trekking bicycles
EN 14766 for Mountain bicycles
EN 14781 for Racing bicycles
EN 14872 for Bicycles – Accessories for bicycles – Luggage carriers

..is given on bike-eu here.

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Hello, welcome to what we call the 'bicycle research group', the working title for our little project to bring bike riders, engineers and members of the cycling industry together in order to make better bikes and other bits and pieces.

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